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PGA Tour's revised cut policy pays off in huge way for Pettersson in Canada

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PGA Tour's revised cut policy pays off in huge way for Pettersson in Canada

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Good thing for Carl Pettersson that the PGA Tour amended its cut policy two years ago.
Pettersson was among those who put in writing his opposition

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Ironicallyl, Carl Pettersson was among those who put in writing his opposition to the PGA Tour's new cut rule at the start of the 2008 season.

Associated Press

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va.

Good thing for Carl Pettersson that the PGA Tour amended its cut policy two years ago.

Pettersson was among those who put in writing his opposition to the tour’s new cut rule at the start of the 2008 season. In an effort to avoid two-tee starts and 5 1/2-hour rounds on the weekend, the tour changed its policy from the top 70 and ties to the nearest number of players to 70th place whenever more than 78 players made the cut.

It caused so much consternation that someone posted a one-question survey -- “Do you agree with the new cut policy?” in the locker room at the Sony Open. There were six signatures under “No,” which included Pettersson.

The policy was changed a short time later to include a 54-hole cut when more than 78 players qualified for the weekend. Two years later, that change enabled Pettersson to keep playing at the RBC Canadian Open, where he made the cut on the number Friday, shot 60 on Saturday and closed with a 67 to win on Sunday.

“I would have missed the cut,” Pettersson said. “Now they have the Saturday cut instead, which … I really don’t see the point of it. But I guess it helps people get around quicker.”

Pettersson still doesn’t like the amended rule, and he has company.

John Daly was a victim of the original cut policy at the Sony Open. He made the cut on the number in Canada, but failed to stay inside the top 70 and ties after Saturday’s round of 73.

“It used to be a 72-hole tournament, shouldn’t they let everyone play hard right to the end?” Daly said on Twitter.

Also knocked out was former Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger, who also made the cut on the number, only to shoot 74 on Saturday. Azinger agreed with one of his follower’s tweets that the 54-hole cut kept fans from watching three major champions -- Azinger, Daly and Lee Janzen. Who knew they had such a following?

It’s worth noting that Azinger also was among the six who signed the makeshift petition two years ago in Hawaii.